The Scramble for Popularity

[Coconut]

The Scramble for Popularity

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds
of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly
glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the
prophets who were before you.
--Matthew 5:11-12

Popular Judaism slew the prophets and crucified Christ. Popular
Christianity killed the Reformers, jailed the Quakers and drove John
Wesley into the streets. When it comes to religion, the crowds are
always wrong. At any time there are a few who see, and the rest are
blinded. To stand by the truth of God against the current religious
vogue is always unpopular and may be downright dangerous....

Christianity's scramble for popularity today is an unconscious
acknowledgment of spiritual decline. Her eager fawning at the feet
of the world's great is a grief to the Holy Spirit and an
embarrassment to the sons of God. The lick-spittle attitude of
popular Christian leaders toward the world's celebrities would make
such men as Elijah or George Fox sick to the stomach....

Lot was a popular believer. He sat in the gates of Sodom. But when
trouble struck, he had to send quick for Abraham to get him out of
the jam. And where did they find Abraham? Out on the hillside, far
away from the fashionable crowds. It has always been so. For every
Elijah there have always been 400 popular prophets of Baal. For
every Noah there is always a vast multitude who will not believe
it is going to rain.

We are sent to bless the world, but never are we told to compromise
with it.

-A. W. Tozer

 

[Elshevia]

Dear Coconut, I have often wondered why this happened, have you ever read Fox Martyrs, It
will bring teers to the eyes of any reader, in the name of religion thousands have died for their beliefs, burned at the stake because they refused to give up there religion, and died with the words Jesus on their lips, praying for their tormentors and giving Glory to God, age, male, and female, young, old, position, nothing mattered to these Men.
I quote; here one young Man saying; be of good courage, Father; the worst will soon be past
then Praying said; O God Father everlasting, accept the sacrifice of our bodies, for thy well-
beloved Son Jesus Christ's sake, while the flames burnt him alive, that's belief, that's faith.

 

[jiggyfly]

Good post Coconut, although the popular will disagree. Popular Christianity is not the kingdom of God but rather a conglomerate of thousands and thousands of mini kingdoms. In order to maintain some simulation of peace and unity compromise is very necessary.

One's popularity with man has often been construed as God's annointing and approval. This only gives testimony to how carnal the christian populous think. Bottom line, if one is not denying self and carrying their cross they are not a disciple of Christ.

A.W. Tozer died in 1963, I wonder what he would say if he were alive today? I don't think it would be pleasant nor popular.

 

[Word of Life]

Thank you coconut, that's a great post.

I was reading the George Fox's journals recently, as you can read them on line. Like you Elshevia, tears were in my eyes as I felt his pain, knowing, what was happening all those years ago, is still happening today.

Denying self, and walking away from the lusts of this world, has not been easy.

The world has made this hard and has confused many, one says this, the other says that. But with God, His way is simple and very easy and light. There is no divisions and there is no religion.

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

God sent His son Jesus, to show us a better way. Just follow him, learn by his teachings and be a doer, and walk as he walked.

Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.